Boys soccer: Archie Williams claims elusive MCAL postseason title

A year ago, the Archie Williams High boys soccer team came off the field at San Rafael High after losing a heartbreaker to Redwood in the MCAL championship game – its fourth loss in four consecutive appearances in various finals.

On Saturday, now making their seventh consecutive appearance in a championship game in all competitions, the Peregrine Falcons leaned on the experience of the North Coast Section and NorCal titles they won in 2025 and claimed the only title missing from their trophy case following a 2-0 win against Terra Linda.

“Everybody says you’ve got to suffer before you win championships,” Archie Williams coach Rene Ayala said after his team won its third consecutive final. “I think having that experience of winning a NorCal championship and an NCS championship on a bigger stage, I think it allowed our guys to stay resolute, stay composed, not get caught up in the moment and not get caught up in the adversity that Terra Linda was presenting to us.”

After being unable to find a breakthrough in the first half with a strong wind at their backs, the Peregrine Falcons (13-5-3) scored twice going into the wind in the second half. Henry Miller put the Peregrine Falcons ahead 1-0 in the 62nd minute then Sean Chamberlin scored in the 72nd minute – both goals assisted by Devin Singh – as they claimed their first MCAL postseason title in at least two decades.

“It feels so good,” Chamberlain said. “The last two years just going through the heartbreak of almost having it and then giving up one little moment and then losing it, it’s just the worst feeling. Just to be able to control the whole game like we did today, it just feels amazing.”

Terra Linda (10-5-4) battled into the wind for the first 40 minutes and successfully got into halftime at 0-0. The onus was on the Peregrine Falcons to defy the odds and go into the wind themselves to avoid losing in regulation or, at best, force overtime.

“At halftime it actually helped us because we changed our formation,” Ayala said. “We changed our scheme. We put the ball on the carpet and we started finding feet and that’s when we found our juice.”

The Peregrine Falcons provided a harbinger in the first minute of the second half, creating perhaps their best chance of the game to that point as Miller fired a shot on target and forced a good save out of TL goalie Jesse Rodriguez.

Miller then provided the breakthrough in the 62nd minute, volleying a shot off the underside of the crossbar and in to give the Peregrine Falcons their first lead in any of their three consecutive MCAL finals appearances.

“I played it out to Devin,” Miller said. “He drives down the line a little bit. I’m far back post. I put my hands up. I notice I’m open and he plays it in. It’s a little behind me but I tried to improvise and hit it first time.”

Singh was the creator of the second goal after Terra Linda had enjoyed an attacking spell inside Archie Williams’ final third. Singh collected the ball and bolted down the left side of the field on a solo run of about 60 yards. Singh maintained possession of the ball allowing Chamberlin to get into the play and make a run into the box.

“It was an incredible cross by Devin,” Chamberlain said. “I’m always telling him to cross it back post because I’ll be there. One of the struggles we’ve had is we haven’t had those runners in the box and I was the only runner in the box. I knew he was going to play it there and I was just lucky enough that he played an incredible ball. It kind of just went right to my foot. All credit to Devin. It’s more Devin’s than my goal.”

With little over 10 minutes to try and climb back into the game, TL was unable to create anything truly dangerous and Archie Williams saw out the game and won the first MCAL postseason title of Ayala’s 20-year tenure.

“The whole time I was coaching these boys, I was trying to stay in the moment,” Ayala said. “Three years in a row just thinking back and harkening on all those opportunities and all that pain and all that anguish, it just makes this moment that much sweeter.”

TL’s best opportunity of the game came in the 29th minute following a free kick taken near midfield. The ball went to Monty Cooke, who crossed it in to Charlie Ahlemeyer inside the box. Ahlemeyer’s shot went wide by maybe a couple of yards.

Archie Williams created its two best chances of the first half inside the final 10 minutes. Chamberlain took a free kick from about 25 yards away from goal in the 31st minute and forced a save from Rodriguez. Singh pounced on the rebound but his shot sailed over the crossbar.

Singh took a long throw-in for Archie Williams in the 33rd minute. The ball was cleared out of the box but only as far as Charlie Hinkelman, who smashed a shot off the crossbar.

The Peregrine Falcons’ path toward an eighth consecutive finals appearance and a fourth consecutive title will take shape when the North Coast Section brackets are released on Sunday. The Peregrine Falcons are likely to land in a tough Division I bracket and are hopeful of landing a home game. Terra Linda is likely to land in D-II and could also be in line for a home game.